Scouting report: Xavier men's basketball opens the 2021-22 season against Niagara

Adam Baum, Cincinnati Enquirer

November 8, 2021 at 2:23 PM·3 min read

Head coach Travis Steele called Friday's exhibition win over Ferris State a good first impression for Xavier University's men's basketball team, and the challenge for Tuesday night's season-opener is to follow that up with a complete performance against Niagara (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1).

More: Important TV information for Xavier men's basketball's season-opener against Niagara

Xavier Musketeers guard Paul Scruggs (1) takes the ball down court on a turnover in the first half of the NCAA exhibition game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Ferris State Bulldogs at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Xavier led 52-26 at halftime.

Xavier's experienced and deep enough to hit the ground running this season with a strong showing right out of the gate. Of course, the Musketeers will have to do that without one of their best players as Zach Freemantle's only three weeks removed from foot surgery.

That means Paul Scruggs and Nate Johnson, both fifth-year seniors, and sophomore standouts Colby Jones and Dwon Odom need to step up and shoulder the challenge of carrying this team into a new season.

Guys like Adam Kunkel, Dieonte Miles and transfers Jerome Hunter and Jack Nunge will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact immediately.

The Game

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Cintas Center
TV/Radio: FS1 – however, there will be a Big East "whip-around" that jumps around to different games throughout the night. Fans need the Fox Sports App to watch the XU game in its entirety. Byron Larkin and Joe Sunderman will have the radio call on WKRC-AM (550).
Series info: Xavier leads the series 8-2. Tuesday will be the first meeting since 1988.

Scouting Report

Xavier Musketeers (13-8 last season)

Coach: Travis Steele, fourth season (51-37 overall)

Offense: 74.8 ppg

Defense: 70.2 ppg

Projected lineup

Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)

Paul Scruggs (G, 6'5", 14.0 ppg)

Jerome Hunter (F, 6'8", 6.3 ppg)

Colby Jones (G, 6'6", 7.7 ppg)

Dieonte Miles (F, 6'10", 2.6 ppg)

Nate Johnson (G, 6'4", 11.4 ppg)

Niagara Purple Eagles (9-11 last season)

Coach: Greg Paulus, third season (21-31 overall)

Offense: 64.7 ppg

Defense: 65.2 ppg

Projected lineup

Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)

Marcus Hammond (G, 6'3", 12.7 ppg)

Justin Robert (G, 5'10", 7.4 ppg)

Greg Kuakumensah (F, 6'6", 6.4 ppg)

Nicholas Kratholm (F, 6'9", 4.1 rpg)

Jordan Cintron (F, 6'8", 7.3 ppg)

Players to watch

Marcus Hammond

The senior is Niagara's leading returning scorer and he led the Purple Eagles in assists last season. The offense will likely run through Hammond, so Xavier needs to neutralize him and force someone else to do the heavy lifting.

Dieonte Miles

The redshirt sophomore will likely make his first career start and Miles has a few specific areas where he can positively impact the game. His length, mobility, ball-screen defense and transition offense are his greatest assets. The more he can capitalize on those areas, the better Xavier will look. The Musketeers need Miles to rebound, defend and put pressure on the rim.

Key to the game

Pace

Based on what we've already seen and the talent and depth and Xavier's roster, the Musketeers want to attack and be aggressive. If Xavier can dictate the pace and play this game the way it wants to, then Niagara shouldn't be able to stop the Musketeers. Xavier also has to build its defense and show improvement over the course of the season, and that starts on Tuesday.

Rankings

KenPom.com: Xavier (26); Niagara (259).

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier Musketeers open 2021-22 season against Niagara

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